Qatar, the first Middle Eastern country to host FIFA World Cup 2022.

Published December 5th, 2010 - 15:01 GMT

The bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups was the process by which the locations for the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups were selected. The process began officially in March 2009; eleven bids from thirteen countries were received, including one which was withdrawn and one that was rejected before FIFA's executive committee voted in November 2010. Two of the remaining nine bids applied only to the 2022 World Cup, while the rest were applications, initially, for both. Over the course of the bidding, all non-European bids for the 2018 event were withdrawn, resulting in the exclusion of all European bids from consideration for the 2022 edition. By the time of the decision, bids for the 2018 World Cup consisted of a joint bid from Belgium and Netherlands, England, a joint bid from Portugal and Spain, and Russia, while bids for the 2022 World Cup came from Australia, Japan, Qatar, South Korea, and the United States. Indonesia's bid was disqualified for lack of governmental support. Mexico withdrew its bid due to financial reasons.

The bidding process was also subject to controversy. Two members of the FIFA executive committee had their voting rights suspended following allegations that they would accept money in exchange for votes. England and Russia's respective bids also were subject to controversy following an official complaint based upon FIFA's rules regarding talking about rival bidders, though the complaint was withdrawn following Russia's apology.

On 2 December 2010, Russia and Qatar were selected as the locations for the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups respectively.

Football fever and a wave of confidence and pride sweeps the Middle East as the announcement that Qatar has secured its bid to host the 2018 World Cup is celebrated in the region.